Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Domo arigato, Japan. Japanese masking tape is one of my favorite things to hit the crafting market in a long time. I love how versatile it is. Thanks to its not-so-tacky tack, I can put it on my wall without damaging the paint, and I can even peel and stick it on paper several times without messing up the paper. It’s a masking marvel. Check out a few things I created with it, using the Love My Tapes brand, for a local TV segment.

Build a BannerI wrapped the tape around a ribbon and adhered it to itself to create this banner. It’s a quick way to dress up the home or the yard.

For a more seasonal take, I punched bits of cardstock and added letter stickers to spell “spring.” I then attached the letters using the pretty tape.

Create with Clothespins

The tape will adhere to several surfaces, including wood, so I used it to dress up an ordinary clothespin. It’s a unique way of adding a placecard to a table setting.

Tape Up Some LetterheadI cut the tape into triangles and added a little stitching to create a banner across the paper. I will either add my name to the banner to create personalized stationery, or I will turn this into a scrapbook layout. Either way, this is a simple way to make a playful banner.

Wrap without PaperYou don’t need wrapping paper to dress up a present. Instead, wrap a basic box with Japanese masking tape. It’s colorful and quick…what a gift!Enhance an EnvelopeMake your letter standout from the crowd with a little tape.And don’t forget the back. Slap a little tape on the flap.What About You?

I know I’ll be doing more with this fun-to-use craft medium. Have you had a chance to play with it yet? What’s your favorite use?

TV Time

If you're interested, you can check out my Studio 5 segment, where I shared these and other projects. You'll love seeing what Darin, one of the hosts, did with the tape. It was very creative. Enjoy the show!

Also, you can check out several of my past Studio 5 appearances by visiting the section of the "Apperances"Creating Keepsakes website. Thanks for taking a peek. Your support is always appreciated. :)

Monday, March 15, 2010

Do you feel that? It’s time to spring forward an hour, which means you’re probably pretty tired today. I know I am, but I’m afraid this has nothing to do with the clock. Instead, it has everything to do with my having narcolepsy. This is an autoimmune disease caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.

With sleep in the forefront of many minds today, I thought this was a perfect time to do a little to raise awareness of this illness. I lost 13 years of my life to this disease, and it’s now my goal to see that this doesn’t happen to others…possibly you.

Questions to Ask

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself if you or someone you know never feels rested:

Do you experience frequent sleepiness? This can be to the point where you’re nodding off in any and all places. For example, I’ve slept through root canals, through movies, and even through a Def Leopard concert.

Do you have a hard time remembering things, especially recent things?

Are you easily distracted?

Do you get a full night’s sleep only to wake feeling ready for a nap?

Do you experience sleep paralysis?

Do you have nightmares that feel real?

Do you wake up often during the night?

Now, I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, but if you answered “yes” to several of the questions on my list, I would highly encourage you to ask your doctor for more information on narcolepsy.

Take Control

This is a rare-ish disease, but part of that is because so many have gone undiagnosed. Don’t lose years of your life. Instead, take control and find the answers you need. That’s what I finally did, and after years of being told nothing was wrong with me, and I was able to get the help I so desperately needed. This is your life; own it!

Okay, now that that’s out of the way, let’s celebrate Daylight Savings Time by taking a nap. Zzzzzz…

Friday, March 12, 2010

I'm getting ready to head off to Studio 5 (studio5.ksl.com) this morning, where I'll be doing a TV segment on the hot tape trend in crafting. For the most part, we'll be discussing Japanese masking tape, the super fun new product to make its way into the creative world. I'm going to save those projects for the show (I'll post them here soon). For now, I want to share a few of my tricks using other types of tape.

Duct Tape Bouquet

I got this idea from the Duck Brand website (www.duckbrand.com). If you haven't visited, you need to check out their imaginative project gallery. You'll find instructions for making your own duct tape blooms.

Decorative Masking Tape

I love this stuff from Fancy That! It's packing tape all styled up. I covered basic juice glasses to make these candle votives.

And I wrapped it around this white letter holder for a fresh new look for my desk.

That's it for now. I'll post my TV projects soon. In the meantime, I'd love to hear what you like to do with tape?

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

As you may or may not know, shortly after my mama was diagnosed with breast cancer, I decided to grow my hair out for Locks of Love. (You can read more about this here.) Well, the time for the cut is drawing near, which means I need to start looking at styles.

I haven't gone short-short since I was kid and had to cut my hair after a perm gone wrong, so this is a tad scary. What if I look terrible with a short do? Eep! But, you know what? The purpose behind the cut is far more important than a bad hair day (or year), so I'm going to do this thing.

I've collected a few cute cuts and would love your feedback. Keeping in mind that my face is not celebrity-thin, which cut do you think would look the best on me? I have a favorite, but my mind isn't made up so I'm not going to tell you which one it is yet. First, I'd love your two cents. So, can you spare some change to help me with mine?

Option #1: The TomKat Cut

Pro: I'm a tucker. Not a day goes by that I don't tuck my hair behind my ears. I like that this cut makes that possible.

Con: I've had bangs like this before (image two), and they're a lot harder to keep up than they look.

Option #2: The Big Love Look

Pro: I love the longer layers in the front. I think it will help disguise my double-chin dance.

Con: My hair is naturally wavy, which means it would probably be a pain to get the sleek, straight strands.

Option #3: The Princess Part

Pro: My hair is definitely on the thick side, and this seems like it would accommodate that without much fuss.

Con: Does it look cute or messy? Not sure.

Option #4: New Moon, New Do

Pro: Feels like a modern and fun take on the traditional short bob.

Con: Like I'll ever look as cute as Miss Alice. That's a hard act to follow, even if it is just hair.

Option #5: Liv's Locks

Pro: People sometimes tell me I look like Miss Tyler, so maybe that means this cut would look good with my face.

Con: It looks like it might be too long. I have to cut at least 6 inches.

So, what do you think? 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5? I can't wait to hair...errr, I mean hear. ;)

About Me

I'm the mom of a beautiful daughter and two crazy pups. I share my heart and soul with my handsome husband, Cory.
Professionally, I write, edit, teach, and create.
In the rare occasion I have some free time, I love spending time with family and friends. Shopping always makes me happy. Creating is a must in my world. And travel is something I fit in when time and budget allow.